Archbishop Job: This year, twice as many pilgrims came to Pochaiv
The UOC hierarch called the religious procession to the Pochaiv Lavra a six-day public supplication for peace and the strengthening of Christ's Church.
The rector of the Pochaiv Theological Seminary, Archbishop Job of Shumsk, said in an interview with the UOJ that the number of participants in the traditional procession to the Pochaiv Lavra this year doubled compared to last year.
According to the hierarch, the twofold increase in the number of pilgrims is explained by the gracious influence of the prayer journey on the spiritual and physical condition of the faithful. "The cross procession transforms its participants, tempering them spiritually and physically," noted Archbishop Job. "This is the secret of why this year there were twice as many participants as last year."
The hierarch clarified that the main part of the pilgrims consisted of women, children, youth, and elderly people. "These are mostly women and children, even infants in strollers, elderly people and youth," emphasized the seminary rector. "God's grace rests upon all of them."
The archpastor also called the procession to Pochaiv a six-day people's prayer service for peace and the strengthening of the Church. "The religious procession is six days of unceasing prayer, a public supplication for the strengthening of Christ’s Church, for peace and tranquility, for victory over the chief enemy and adversary of the human race and all his cunning servants," added the hierarch.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Pochaiv Lavra refuted media lies about the monastery's brotherhood and shrines.
